Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 45. CRIMES

CHAPTER 7. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Part 3. Obstructing Governmental Operations

Obstructing Justice

45-7-303. Obstructing justice. (1) For the purpose of this section "an offender" means a person who has been or is liable to be arrested, charged, convicted, or punished for a public offense.

(2) A person commits the offense of obstructing justice if, knowing another person is an offender, the person purposely:

(a) harbors or conceals an offender;

(b) warns an offender of impending discovery or apprehension, except this does not apply to a warning given in connection with an effort to bring an offender into compliance with the law;

(c) provides an offender with money, transportation, weapon, disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;

(d) prevents or obstructs by means of force, deception, or intimidation anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of an offender;

(e) suppresses by act of concealment, alteration, or destruction any physical evidence that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of an offender; or

(f) aids an offender who is subject to official detention to escape from official detention.

(3) A person convicted of obstructing justice shall be:

(a) imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years if the offender has been or is liable to be charged with a felony; or

(b) fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both, if the offender has been or is liable to be charged with a misdemeanor.

History: En. 94-7-303 by Sec. 1, Ch. 513, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 94-7-303; amd. Sec. 1686, Ch. 56, L. 2009.